Shelsley 19 September 2015

Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb! So steeped in history and still going strong.

When I arrived it was foggy and the start of practice was delayed. After about an hour of waiting for it to clear it was decided we would form some cavalcades (this was the term used) and proceed up the hill in groups of six cars in the hope of dispersing the fog. It seemed a daft idea to me but I was one of the those chosen to participate and it did give me an extra drive up and down the hill. Now, whether we dispersed the fog or whether it just naturally dissipated I don’t know, but after we came down it was decided that visibility had improved and we could start. However, the delay meant that we only had time for one practice run. At Loton it wouldn’t have mattered to me at all since I know it so well, but the last time I competed at Shelsley was this day five years ago, 19 September 2010, and I could have done with a second practice run to familiarise myself with the pace. Nevertheless, in the afternoon I managed second in class to Paul Jones in his Elise 135R so was fairly satisfied. My Elise ran well and its 200BHP made up for my lack of experience here. My start was excellent – 2.36 at 64ft and my finish speed over the line was best in class – 92, but speed into the Esses (77) was slower than others were doing so tomorrow I’ll try and be braver there and also try to get to Kennel quicker.

This was round 31 of the HSA Championship and my time was a new HSA class record, which will have earned me 16 points ( I couldn’t score maximum points as there were not enough HSA people in the class). My lowest score at the moment is a 14 so I can drop that and add 16 to my total giving me 140 points. Whether this is enough to keep me in the top five only time will tell as I don’t know what other people scored.

Anyway, here are some photos.

Great photo by Sam Walker on Facebook of the fog at the top of the hill.Another photo by Sam of the commentary box at the top of the Esses this morning.It was good to see Fyrth Crosse again. This was the first time I’ve seen him since his big accident at Werrington last year. As you can see the Ensign has been rebuilt and now sports the livery from its Formula 2 Monaco race in 1973.The Ensign from the rear.Ifan Davies and Mandy Bartlett from Raglan with their Davrian Mk 6. There’s an HSA championship sticker on this car and I think it’s Ifan’s first HSA round! Hope we see more of him next year. And Mandy of course.Two of my favourite cars and lucky enough to be married to someone who has one of them. Just need a mistress with an Alfa now 😉At Shelsley you do not practice in the same classes that you complete in, so it’s sometimes possible to photograph competitors, which is unusual. Here’s Ted Elwes in Ken Williamson’s Elise.Simon Hamilton, who we last met at Pembrey in the summer, in his Lotus 2-Eleven.The variety of cars in the paddock was amazing. Here we have Mark Brett in his 1937 Ballamy Ford V8 Special.